Yates, who began his career on the Roger Moore TV series The Saint, had a varied filmography, and earned four Academy Award nominations during his long career. He earned dual Oscar noms for Best Picture and Director for producing and helming Breaking Away and The Dresser, respectively.

His other film credits include the classic Boston crime drama The Friends of Freddie Coyle (sort of like the Gone Baby Gone of its time), The Hot Rock, Murphy's War, Mother, Jugs & Speed, The Deep, Eyewitness, Eleni, Suspect, The House on Carroll Street, An Innocent Man, Year of the Comet and Curtain Call.